Big data scale

14 TB

Podo is revolutionizing the utilities industry, using a cloud-based machine learning and advanced analytics platform from Cloudera and Google to help accurately predict future consumption patterns and provide consumers with fully customized rates.

Podo is a Spanish utilities company, providing electricity to consumers and businesses across Spain.

Challenge

In Spain, electric providers compete for market share based on customer service and rates. Podo is revolutionizing utility services by delivering fully customized offerings. In contracting with Podo for their electricity, customers can receive rates tailored to their usage patterns, along with incentives and information that help them save energy and reduce costs.

The ability to accurately predict how much electricity each customer will use next week, month, and year is at the crux of its success. “Understanding how customers will behave in the future allows us to build customized offers,” said Alberto Hernández Seco, Technology Manager, Podo.

Solution

Podo worked with Cloudera to build a cloud-based machine learning and advanced analytics platform that enables it to predict individual power consumption, and serve and manage millions of customers in an efficient and customer-friendly way. The platform can analyze millions of lines of data in seconds, reducing the time to select, segment, and deliver information. Customers can view and control their usage via the Podo app, and learn how they can adapt their consumption to times when energy is less expensive.

We analyze over 40 billion records, along with some streaming data from smart meters and connected devices. We also run a variety of machine learning algorithms. The system consistently improves its forecasts as new data is introduced.

-Alberto Hernández Seco, Technology Manager, Podo

Implementation

In selecting a modern data platform, Podo needed a framework that would run on Google Cloud Platform, provide deep monitoring of the cluster, and deliver enterprise security and governance in the cloud. “As a newly created company competing in a mass market of millions, we needed rapid scalability to increase cluster size as our customer base grew,” said Alberto Hernández Seco. “We chose Cloudera for the ease of use, platform capabilities, and flexibility in how we build applications. All our applications are well-managed with Cloudera Manager.”

Through its implementation, Podo has also democratized access to analytics. “With Cloudera, we can apply big data thinking across the whole company,” said Alberto Hernández Seco. “No decision is taken unless it is backed by data extracted from the platform.”

Results

“Podo’s forecasts are now ten times more accurate by applying machine learning against larger data sets,” said Alberto Hernández Seco. “Our error rate is below one percent.”

The ability to rapidly and more accurately analyze customer data allows Podo to create micro-targeted campaigns that help customers save money in a matter of hours. “We can assess what the consumption will be for everyone in Spain for next year to produce fully customized utilities offers for each home in Spain—about 28 million service points,” said Alberto Hernández Seco. “On average, we’re helping consumers and businesses reduce their electric costs up to 30 percent.”